North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

freon wrote:Who has right of way on the ramp
the person launching or retrieving?

cheers

Apparently the boat with the loudest drunkest people on board.


I'm usually on my own and it takes longer to launch/retrieve. I let others go before me and while I'm waiting I pack up, stow gear, wash the decks etc ect


Good points there fellas about reversing.
One extra I’d say is to make small corrections rather than huge swings on the steering wheel. Remember that when in low 4wd, steering will be harder

Set up a few cheap plastic buckets in a big carpark and practice there before you hit the ramp.

Before you actually drive onto the ramp, get the boat ready completely, including pump the fuel up. The only thing to do on the ramp is to undo the shackle and winch. That’s it

If you're on your own, move the boat well back on the pontoon to let others in/out.
Remember that up here everyone seems to be in a bigger rush than the loonys in Sydney where everyone is in a hurry. NFI why

[/quote]
I let others go before me and while I'm waiting I pack up, stow gear, wash the decks etc ect

Good points there fellas about reversing., One extra I’d say is to make small corrections rather than huge swings on the steering wheel.

Set up a few cheap plastic buckets in a big carpark and practice there before you hit the ramp.

Before you actually drive onto the ramp, get the boat ready completely, including pump the fuel up. The only thing to do on the ramp is to undo the shackle and winch. That’s it [/quote]

Nomda you're right , ...they are 4 of the best points to remember.

Newbies should definately practice reversing , nothing worse than someone who cant back the boat down the ramp,
Dealers have a lot to answer for here, They sell the boat as quick as , but I cant remember the last time one of em spent time showing someone how to get the boat on & off the trailer, or give them a few hints about reversing........then again go to the local tip on a saturday ,....its not just the boaties who need practice reversing.

If everybody abided by these rules there would be no problems.

Rant over

I was recently telling someone how much of an expert i was at revreversing but I couldnt do it in his car. I had about 5 goes at lining up.

I got a new Pajero about 18 months ago, I found out its got both side morrors that are those curved mongel things ......

Clipped the door of the shed backing the poat in .. , lucky for me it only didnt the color bond cladding around the rollerdoor, & I managed to hit it with the rail on the step @ the back of the boat, lucky it wasnt the hull !!!

Im your case its a case of being comfortable in your car, the answer is what you sioad before..... SLOW .....STEERING ....MOVEMENTS

I gotta back my boat form out on the srteet ( on a brow on a bend ) up the drive, across to one side through a roller door with only about 3" clearence on each side, throught the garage 6.5 mtrs through another roller door with only 3" clareance again, up an incline in the back yard 50mtrs, through another roller door intot he shed, with about 2" claearence then drop the motor fit fit under the storage shelf to get her in the shed, nmost time I come home in the dark & do this, so I get a bit of practice, all my mates have had a go & given up, .....too close, too hard.

All about practice

I beleive "Right of way' is usually given to the person who gets to the top of the ramp with their car and trailer ready for launch or retrieve, whether the boat is on or off the trailer, you need to be able to back down straight into the water without having to take time with preperation, other than undoing a shackle and releasing the winch.

thats why they have the bays at the ramp usually to get the boat ready to put in.

Also that is why they have put the pontoons at the ramps so you can tie your boat up away from the ramp a bit to allow the ramp to be used while you get the car.

That is how i have seen it used most times. However there is always the exception.


Once you have everything ready to back down and launch, or retrieve the boat then you can join the line if there is one?

however there are still some ramps that this method cannot be used due to not having bays for boat prep and you cannot pass other people in front of you, while they prepare the boat for launch. eg Buffalo

Maybe signs would be a good idea at all ramps

Just my thoughts, and the way i have always done it since i have had a boat, in Perth and here, for 25years.

gawd, as i was writing my post everyone else said the same thing, well done Nomad, must be something in the get ready first thing!

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